New WA law forces priests to report child abuse

23/05/2019|2min

The West Australian government will move to force ministers of religion to reveal knowledge of child sexual abuse, fining those who don't up to $6000.
The state's Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk announced that 'priests who believe child sex abuse is occurring should report it, and they should be held accountable, if they fail to do so.'
The WA Labor government plans to expand mandatory reporting laws to include all recognised religious leaders who are authorised to conduct religious worship, services and ceremonies.
This includes priests, ministers, imams, rabbis, pastors and Salvation Army officers.
The laws already apply in WA to doctors, teachers, nurses, midwives, police and school boarding supervisors.